United announced some major aircraft purchases from Boeing today.
They have made a firm order for 100 787 Dreamliners, with options to purchases another 100 Dreamliners. Those will be delivered between 2024-2032 and United can choose from the -8, -9, and -10 variants as needed.
Those planes will fuel future expansion, but 100 of the planes will take the place of older 767s and 777s that will be retired. The 767 will be fully retired from the United fleet by 2030 and Boeing doesn’t have a direct replacement for it, so the 787 will fill in for the job.
United will also exercise options and make new firm orders for another 20 737 MAX 8 and 80 737 MAX 10 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2024-2028.
Together with previous orders, United is expecting 700 new aircraft by 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and more than three every week in 2024!
United still has flexible A350 orders on its books, but those won’t come before 2030 and may serve as a 777-200 replacement, if United does wind up taking delivery of them. United may also wind up converting those orders to A320/A321s and ordering next generation 777s down the line to keep their widebody fleet all Boeing.
United says that it’s more than 90% of the way through converting their long-haul fleet to have Polaris Business and Premium Economy, and will finish that conversion by summertime.
United is also adding its new signature interior for domestic planes, which includes speedier WiFi, larger overhead bins, AC and USB power, and large HD screens with bluetooth and free entertainment at every seat, with 100 aircraft retrofitted in 2023 and the rest of the mainline fleet by 2025.
What new routes do you hope to see United operate with its massive 787 order?
Leave a Reply
30 Comments On "United Goes All-In On 787 And 737 MAX Orders"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
I like the 777 more than the 787. Feels roomier
It is roomier, though it doesn’t have the same pressurization benefits that more modern aircraft like the 787 have.
I’m still holding out hope for next gen 777X orders, though Boeing really needs to get their act together on that plane.
“ What new routes do you hope to see United operate with its massive 787 order?”
CLE-TLV
CLE-MLE
CLE-LOL
Lol
Any change to domestic first seating?
Was there a DansDeals special on 787s that I missed?
Hi Dan it would be nice if you switched out to the United aircraft picture on these posts with the new livery
Both are terrible for economy passengers with their 17″ seats. I’ll choose Airbus airplanes over them any time.
Airlines are already starting to go 10 abreast on the A350, which is below 17″.
I sat in a 10 abreast A350 in Toulouse at Airbus HQ. Incredibly uncomfortable. But yes, a 9 abreast A350 beats a 10 abreast 777 or 9 abreast 787.
BWI-TLV
Not going to happen on United, but maybe El Al one day.
United’s remaining TLV options would be IAH or LAX.
Denver
Possible, but unlikely.
Still dont understand why neither United, Delta, nor American have not started service from LAX-TLV yet??? Even without the ability to pick up connecting traffic isnt there still enough demand for another nonstop per day? Doesnt the 787-8 only have around 250 seats? Plus they can still pick up some connecting traffic from Hawaii, Mexico, Southern California, and possibly even Arizona? Baffling to me how the second largest Jewish community in the US still only has 1 nonstop per day…
Ultra-long flights are a very expensive proposition. But it will happen eventually.
Yes but how can it be that New York has 5? nonstops per day from 4 different airlines but Los Angeles only has one per day from one airline??? Have you ever raised this with the UA, DL, or AA? Any feedback from them? Dying for some more competition here in Los Angeles for nonstop options…….Thanks Dan!
1. Because NYC has more than 5x the daily traffic to TLV than LAX.
2. Because it’s far more economical to fly a ~10 hour flight than a ~15 hour flight. Airlines would rather you connect to a shorter flight.
Go Southwest! BWI-TLV!!1
Still impatiently waiting for those new interiors domestically. Haven’t seen one yet on my recurring transcons.
Most of the fleet will be converted next year.
That’s a relief – by your comment in the article I thought 2025 with only a few converted next year.
What ever happened to First class? Why did it disappear?
Economics.
As the Polaris club does not have any kosher food I might just jump ship and go with El Al to Israel, especially after Dan’s good report.
Dan, this is probably a stupid question. If the planes cost around $300 Million per plane, and they last 30 years. So the cost of just the planes (not including interest) would be around 30K a day. Include all other expenses ( pilots, stewards, gas, food etc l). How do they make money.
Let’s pick a flight to TLV. On United, between $400 and $1000, depending on the season, and usually somewhere in the middle. 250 seats on a plane. Assume all economy. That’s $100,000 during off-season and $175,000 during peak season. Now add in economy plus, premium, and business. The other way also works. Avg J is around $4,000. 48 seats, gets you to $192,000. And that’s just J.
By selling miles
While flying from TLV, the head flight attendant told me the IAH-TLV route will start once the construction is completed in IAH
Alas, flight attendants are clueless about network plans.